Market Overview

Saskatchewan is the third-largest producer of natural gas in Canada and the fifth-largest consumer. In 2001, total consumption of natural gas reached 4.9 10⁹m³(173 Bcf), slightly lower than Quebec. The industrial market represents two-thirds of the consumption in Saskatchewan where the majority of gas is purchased directly by industrial customers. Since 1987, residential customers have been able to purchase their gas directly from third-party marketers, but similar to Alberta, third-party marketers have not been successful in attracting residential customers away from the local gas distributor.

The local gas distributor is SaskEnergy, which is a Crown corporation owned by the province. SaskEnergy has been successful in expanding its operations throughout the rural areas of Saskatchewan over the past number of years. Natural gas is gathered and transported within Saskatchewan by TransGas Limited, a related company to SaskEnergy.